Chris Jones News

Following its Broadway run, Ayad Akhtar's Pulitzer Prize winning play DISGRACED will soon be heading to HBO.

Theo's summer cabaret will feature favorites and lesser-known gems by the Emmy-Grammy-Oscar-Tony winning composer Theo Ubique's summer cabaret of 2015 will turn to the songs of one of the best-loved composers of the 20th Century's later decades when it showcases the songs of Marvin Hamlisch from tonight, June 4 - July 12, 2015 at the No Exit Cafe, 6970 N. Glenwood Ave. in Rogers Park

the side project will close its historic 15th season with the World Premiere of Whatever, a new play by Robert Tenges that, like his plays Elsewhere and Strangers Knocking, is concerned with struggling adolescents, a niche for which the side project has been praised in the past.

Chicago Tribune theater critic Chris Jones recently sat down with Gloria and Emilio Estefan to discuss On Your Feet, a new musical based on the life story of the seven-time GRAMMY winning international superstar.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, is pleased to announce the extension of RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH through August 30. The musical tribute has received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike and has broken sales records for Mercury Theater Chicago. "A good time with a great American artist!" exclaimed Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune. He also praised Kent M. Lewis' portrayal of Johnny Cash saying, "Lewis does not wear the cloak of the Man in Black; he inhabits him" and Hedy Weiss of the Chicago Sun-Times Highly Recommends the production saying it's "A show ablaze with fire and unmitigated fun!"

Collaboraction, the Ambassadors of Hope, are premiering an all-new, world premiere installment of Crime Scene, the hit show that ignited the company's now three-year campaign to link immersive, hyper-local live theater crowd-sourced with community activists and organizations to combat violence in Chicago.

Theo's summer cabaret will feature favorites and lesser-known gems by the Emmy-Grammy-Oscar-Tony winning composer Theo Ubique's summer cabaret of 2015 will turn to the songs of one of the best-loved composers of the 20th Century's later decades when it showcases the songs of Marvin Hamlisch from June 4 - July 12, 2015 at the No Exit Cafe, 6970 N. Glenwood Ave. in Rogers Park. Music Director Aaron Benham (recently honored with three Jeff nominations for the 2014-15 season, including one for last summer's A Musical Tribute to the Andrews Sisters by Theo) is providing new arrangements for a program representing the full body of Hamlisch's work. Benham and a cast of six will perform numbers ranging from standards like 'The Way We Were' and 'Nobody Does It Better' through selections from his Broadway musicals (A Chorus Line, They're Playing Our Song, Sweet Smell of Success, The Goodbye Girl and Smile) and film scores (The Sting, Sophie's Choice). Courtney Crouse (of Theo Ubique's Chess) is the stage director and Chris Logan (of Theo's A Cole Porter Songbook and Bailiwick Chicago's Murder Ballad) is the choreographer. The press opening will be Saturday, June 6 at 8 p.m., following previews Thursday, June 4 at 7:30 p.m., and Friday, June 5 at 8 p.m.

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce the return engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, will offer rush tickets for all performances. A limited number of rush tickets will only be available for purchase with a valid ID for students, senior and military patrons at the box office at the Cadillac Palace Theatre on the day of the performance and will cost $25 per ticket, with a limit of 2 tickets per valid ID. The musical JERSEY BOYS will make its much-anticipated return to Chicago to play the Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W Randolph) for the first time May 12 through May 24, 2015.

The Theatre School at DePaul University will host the One Theatre World 2015 national conference, today, May 7 through May 9, 2015, produced by Theatre for Young Audiences/USA (TYA/USA). TYA/USA is a national service organization whose mission is to promote the power of professional theatre for young audiences through excellence, collaboration, and innovation across cultural and internal boundaries.

Collaboraction, the Ambassadors of Hope, are premiering an all-new, world premiere installment of Crime Scene, the hit show that ignited the company's now three-year campaign to link immersive, hyper-local live theater crowd-sourced with community activists and organizations to combat violence in Chicago.

Manhattan Theatre Club's presentation of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's production of Airline Highway, the new play by Pulitzer Prize finalist Lisa D'Amour (Detroit), directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello (Casa Valentina, Take Me Out), opens tonight, April 23 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street). Let's see what the critics had to say...

The Visit, the final musical ever by legendary Tony Award-winning duo John Kander and Fred Ebb, celebrates its opening tonight, April 23, 2015 at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street). Let's see what the critics had to say...

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) will end its 2014-2015 season with the Shakespeare classic A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre between tonight, April 23rd and May 3rd.

The new musical comedy Something Rotten!, directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Aladdin), with music and lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick and a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell, officially opens on Broadway tonight, April 22, 2015 at the St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street). Let's see what the critics had to say...

The Chicago stage premiere of Academy Award winning director Taylor Hackford's LOUIS & KEELY 'LIVE' AT THE SAHARA has been extended by popular demand through Sunday, May 17 at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 North Halsted Street. Hackford, best known for his films An Officer and a Gentleman, Against All Odds, The Devil's Advocate,.

DOCTOR ZHIVAGO officially opens at the Broadway Theatre tonight, April 21, 2015. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Fun Home, the highly-anticipated, Award-winning American musical opens tonight, April 19. With music by four-time Tony Award nominee Jeanine Tesori, a book and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Lisa Kron and direction by Drama Desk nominee Sam Gold, Fun Home started previews on Broadway at the Circle in the Square Theatre (235 West 50th Street), on March 27.

The new Broadway musical Finding Neverland, starring Matthew Morrison, Kelsey Grammer and Laura Michelle Kelly, officially opens tonight, April 15, 2015 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street). Let's see what the critics had to say...

Tony and Emmy Award winner Tyne Daly, Tony Award winner Harriet Harris, Sierra Boggess and Lisa Howard head an outstanding cast in It Shoulda Been You, the hilarious and heartwarming new musical comedy that proves when it comes to wedding day insanity, everything is relative. It Shoulda Been You officially opens tonight, April 14, 2015 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Let's see what the critics had to say...

The new Broadway musical AN AMERICAN IN PARIS opens on Broadway this Sunday, April 12, 2015 at the Palace Theatre (Broadway at 47th Street). The production began previews on Friday, March 13, 2015.